Graphophone.



No. 653,667. Patented lulyl7, I900.-v A. C. FERGUSON.

GRAPHOPHVDNE.

(Application filed Oct. 9, 1899.)

2 Sheets8heet I.

(No Model.)

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a z iifiessesx 0., wnsum 1' ncnms PETERS No. 653,667. Patented July [7, I900.

A. C. FERGUSON.

GRAPHDPHONE.

(Application filed Oct. 9, 1899.; (No ode 2 sheets-Sheet 2.

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NiTED STATES PATENT Oran;

ARTHUR O. FERGUSON, OF NEW YORK, N. it.

GRAPHOPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,667, dated July 17, 1906.

Application filed October 9, 1899. Serial No. 733,05 7. (N0 model.)

T0 (0 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kin gs and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Recording and Reproducing Sound; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for recording and reproducing articulate speech, as well as musical and other sounds; and it consists, substantially, in such features of improvement as will hereinafter be more particularly described.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a suitable apparatus or machine comprising a rotary disk or support, a separate or detachable disk covered with suitable material adapted to be indented, and a vibrating diaphragm combined with a movable point for producing indentations upon the covering of the said separate or detachable disk. In operation by causing any sound to be projected against the diaphragm--as, for.

instance, the human voice in speaking or singing-the said diaphragm will vibrate corresponding to the depth or pitch of the voice, and a rapid motion being thus imparted to the said movable point the latter by playing upon the surface of the covering of the removable or detachable disk will indent the same in correspondence with the vibrations of the said diaphragm, and thereby accurately record the sound, whatever be its nature. While recording the sound in this manner, the construction and operation of the parts are such that the indentations are produced in concentric lines, so that the entire surface of the covering of the detachable or removable disk may be thus utilized, and after the desired record has been made it is simply necessary to replace the movable point at the position of starting, whereupon by a continuance of the rotary motion of the said disk an exact reproduction of the sound is obtained.

My invention is based upon the principle of operation of the well -known Edison phonograph-machine; but the particular apparatus or machine which I employ is much more simple in its construction and arrangement, and instead of employing a wax cylinder or a cylinder covered with tin-foil I employ a suitable disk covered with metal foil or its equivalent as the element or medium for obtaining the record and reproduction of the sound. By the use of such a disk I obtain a smooth unbroken surface of foil without the exercise of the care necessary with a cylinder to bring the meeting edges of the foil together and which if not efiected with accuracy results in imperfect records and reproductions as well. The principal object I have in view, however, in the employment of such a disk is to provide a sound recording and reproducing medium which is exceedingly light and strong and one which is capable of transmission through the mails without danger of rupture or distortion and at no greater cost to the sender than that of an ordinary letter. Thus it will be seen that individuals at distant points each having a machine can carry on correspondence in a secret or most private manner. The cost of the disk as compared with that of a cylinder is very small, since the same is readily cut out by means of suitable dies and requires no subsequent shaping or manipulationto adapt it to the machine. The said removable or detachable disk is simply placed upon the permanent rotary disk, and Whenever a record of sound is to be madeas of speech, for instance-the voice is thrown upon the diaphragm through an ordinary funnel in the usual way,'and then when the reproduction is effected the emission of the sound also takes place through the funnel.

It is my purpose to manufacture the removable or detachable disks in large quantities and to sell the same in lots or packages, so that a person having provided himself with a machine can readily obtain the disks as they may be needed or required. Preferably the disks will be sold ready covered with tinfoil; but it is evident that the user can cover them when required with but little difiiculty. As a further special feature of the removable disk it will be noted that the same is con.-

structed to be supported in proper position upon the permanent disk of the machine when placed thereon for use, thus requiring no fitting or cutting thereof after purchase.

The above and additional objects and advantages of my present improvements will be more fully hereinafter understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a machine constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a similar View from the rear of the vibratory diaphragm detached. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine to more clearly indicate the arrangement. Fig.4=isasectionalviewthrough the center of the permanent rotary disk or support, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the removable or detachable disk to show how in some instances the edge of the metal foil is turned over the edge of said disk. Fig. 6 is a face or front view of the removable or detachable disk to show the bared central portion thereof. Fig. 7 is a similar view of said removable disk, showing the same with the foil covering extending all the way to the control-opening thereof and with said opening of rounded form. Fig. 8 is also a similar View representing the central opening of the removable disk as rectangular and showing a-similar form of projection therethrough from the permanent disk or support.

In the drawings, 1 represents a suitable base, upon which is mounted and secured a suitable standard 2, the upper portion 3 of which is bent or turned back slightly at 4, by which the permanent rotary support or disk 5, hereinafter described, is given a slight rearwardly-inclined position, the better to observe the progress of the indentations delineated upon the covering of the removable or detachable disk 7, also hereinafter more specifically referred to. Secured to the said standard 2 is a yoke or frame 8, preferably semicircular in shape and with its two arms or branches 9 projecting forwardly or toward the front of the machine. Journaled in suitable openings in said arms or branches 9 is a horizontal shaft 10,having a right-hand screwthread of suitable pitch, and one end of said shaft projects beyond the yoke or frame and is provided witha driving belt-pulley 11 and an operating crank or handle 12. The arm or branch 9 of the said yoke or frame contiguous to the said belt-pulley and crank is provided with an upwardly-projecting arm or member 13, in the upper end of which is rotatably mounted two small guide-pulleys 14 and 15.

Attached to the upper bent portion 3 of the standard 2 is a sleeve 16, having a slight forward and upward inclination preferably, and through which sleeve passes a short shaft 17, to the forward upper end of which is attached or secured a permanent disk or support 5, through the center of which the end of said shaft 17 projects, as at 19. Secured to the under side of the permanent disk or support 5 is a pulley 20, which is concentric with shaft 17, and passing around this pulley and over the guide-pulleys 14 15 and thence around driving-pulley 11 is a driving cord or belt 21.

Supported by the arm 9 of the yoke or frame opposite to the driving-pulley and operatingcrank is a guide-bar 22, which is elevated above and parallel to the screw-shaft 10, and moving on this bar is a slide 23, to which is connected a traveler or half-nut 24, that rests upon the screw-shaft and is caused to travel to the right whenever the operating handle or crank is turned. Said slide is capable of being turned outwardly on the guide-bar, so as to elevate the half-nut from the screwshaft and permit the said slide and half-nut to be moved back after the same have reached the limit of movement in the right-hand direction. Removably fitted to a block 25, carried by said slide, is an ordinary Edison diaphragm 26, provided with a vibrating or movable point 27 on the inner side, (see Fig. 3,) which when any sound is projected against the said diaphragm is caused to move rapidly against the removable disk and which latter being covered with tin-foil or its equivalent will be indented accordingly.

Connecting the half-nut 24 with the base 1 or other part of the machine is a spring .30, which tends to hold the nut steadily in place on the screw-shaft 10 as the latter is operated to produce a sound-record.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by first placing the slide and its diaphragm, together with the half-nut, at the left of the machine and then turning the operatingcrank or handle the permanent and detachable disks will be rotated together, while at the same time the diaphragm and slide will be carried to the right by movement of the half-nut, and in this way the indentations produced upon the surface of the covering of the removable disk will be in continuous concentric lines.

In order to project or concentrate the sound upon the diaphragm, I employ a suitable detachable funnel 30,which issupported or held in position by means of a suitable wire bracket 32, secured at one end to the base 1.

The removable or detachable disk 7 can be of any suitable material; but preferably I make the same of thin aluminium, and the same is covered with suitable material adapted to be indented easily, preferably metal foil. Thus in Figs. 5 to 8 the covering of metal foil is designated at 35. As previously stated herein, I propose to manufacture and sell the said-disks in quantities, and in order that there will be no difficulty in placing the same in position for use quickly I construct it to be received upon the permanent rotary support or disk 5 of the machine-as, for instance, by fitting around the projecting end 19 of the shaft 17. Ordinarily I can construct the said disk with a central opening 36 either round, as in Fig. 7, or rectangular, as in Fig. 8, and by also making the projection 19 of corresponding shape the said disk will be held in place by simply slipping the same upon the projection and then pushing it back against the permanent disk 5. Sometimes, however, when the projection 19 is round I thread the same, Fig. 2, and I then employ a nut 40, screwing thereon, simply as an additional safeguard to prevent the removable disk from slipping off. The use of this nut is not absolutely necessary, however. Sometimes when the same is employed I prefer to remove a portion of the metal-foil covering of the removable disk and leave the latter bared at 36 for a space at least equal to or slightly in excess of the diameter of the said nut 40, so that in screwing the nut up tightly against the disk there will be no danger of tearing or disturbing the foil covering by abrasion.

In order to entirely cover the outer surface of the removable disk and also to present no edge of the metal foil at the edge of the said disk, I prefer that the said foil covering shall lap over or be folded around the edge of the disk at 39, (see Fig. 5,) and in this case I provide the outer or upper surface of the permanent rotary disk 5 with an annular recess 41 at the edge,which serves to receive the turnedover portion of the tin-foil covering and permits the removable disk to lie fiat against he said permanent disk. I need not adhere strictly to this arrangement, however.

From the foregoing description regarding the removable disk it will be understood that the same is substantially a separate article of manufacture in itself and embodies a structural form adapting it to be at once fitted in place for use in connection with the permanent disk of this or any other similar sound recording and reproducing machine.

By forming the removable or detachable disk with the central rectangular opening I provide means by which the said disk is readily placed on and taken from its support, and while the same is in posit-ion it cannot rotate independently of said support, and by turning the foil covering around the edge of the disk not only is such covering held in place without the use of adhesives or other means, but at the same time an annular flange of the foil is formed or produced on the rear or inner face of the disk, which flange is received in the recess on the support, so as to permit the said disk to lie in place flatly and firmly without independent vibrations thereof, and besides this turned-over edge of the foil prevents in a very large degree the tearing of the foil from the disk, such as would be apt to occur from handling of the completed disk or on insertion of the same in an envelop, provided the edge of the foil extended only to the edge of the disk. My improved detachable disk thus presents many advantages over disks heretofore employed in this class of devlces.

Without limiting myself to the precise details herein shown and described, I claim- 1. In a machine for recording and reproducing sound, the combination of a permanent rotary disk or support recessed at the edge on its upper surface, a removable disk thereon having a metal-foil covering with folded-over edge received by said recess, a traveler or nut, a vibrating diaphragm and movable point moved along by said traveler, and means for operating the parts, substantially as described.

2. Ina machine for recording and reproducing sound, the combination with a suitable base and standard thereon, of a semicircular yoke or frame secured to the standard with the branches thereof projecting forwardly of the machine, a screw-shaft journaled in said branches, and a guide-bar parallel therewith, a sleeve attached to the upper portion of the standard, a shaft passing through said sleeve and provided with a permanent rotary disk through the center of which the end of the shaft projects,a removable disk on said rotary disk, the same having a covering of indentible material, a block on the guide-bar, a traveler or .nut moving on the screw-shaft and attached to the block, a vibrating diaphragm and movable point moved along by said traveler, and means for operating the parts, substantially as described.

3. The removable or detachable disk having a central rectangular opening adapting it for immovably fitting a support therefor, the said disk having a covering of metal foil folded around the edge of the same so as not to present any edge of the foil at the edge of the disk, and so as to form a raised flange on the inner or rear surface of said disk, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR C. FERGUSON.

lVitnesses:

E. EVERETT ELLIs, FRANK. D. BLACKISTONE.

IOO 

